Overthinking—also called analysis paralysis—occurs when excessive deliberation about a decision leads to increased anxiety, self-doubt, and avoidance rather than clarity. Research in cognitive psychology (Schwartz, 2022) shows that 'maximizers' who search for the perfect option report lower satisfaction and higher regret than 'satisficers' who choose the first option that meets their criteria. Neuroscience studies (Mobbs & Kim, 2021) also demonstrate that rumination activates the brain's default mode network in ways that impair executive decision-making. This worksheet helps you move from overthinking to purposeful action by externalizing the key elements of each decision.